BALLARAT Grammar year nine students have developed their own socially innovative product and service ideas, with an aim to address issues impacting teenagers.<\/p>\n
Last week, small groups pitched their concepts, including mental health support and fitness apps, a substance abuse help site, and an anti-stress fidget pack to a panel of community members.<\/p>\n
The panel, including Ballarat Regional Tourism CEO Sarah Myers, provided feedback on the presentations, and linked the pupils to potential contacts and organisations that could help them fully realise their ideas.<\/p>\n
Six teams from class 9AM presented separate pitches. Demi and Abbie developed the Priority You, a mental health app.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis process has helped us develop our public speaking skills and collaboration. The process allowed us to think outside of the box. Even when working from home, we were able to collaborate,\u201d Demi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had time to plan our presentation and our classmates were supportive and respectful during our presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresenting to experts was helpful. They provided us with fresh ideas and helped us consider new community partners with whom we could work. Their feedback will help us produce a more user-friendly product.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Grammar\u2019s pitches were part of the broader Crazy Ideas College initiative, encouraging young people to design their own innovative, changemaking concepts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe liked having no restrictions. We were able to be passionate about our teen issue and could go as crazy as we wanted for our solution with the help of Crazy Ideas College,\u201d Abbie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a whole day to work through the ideation process allowed us to work at our own pace and make our idea the best it could be.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a team, we would like to start small but aim big. Headspace and Ballarat Community Health are the partners we have identified to help us get our… service up and running.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher Alice Humble said the ideation process was initially coordinated via online learning in lockdown, but her students have been very resilient.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey used a range of technology to collaborate effectively despite the extra challenges,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were also lucky enough to have Crazy Ideas College staff Kieran and Freya run last week\u2019s sessions on prototyping and developing a \u2018smart start experiment\u2019 on site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe students had to pull their pitches together in a shorter timeframe, but despite this, they were focused in their preparations and produced engaging and well-structured pitches, which was a relief given their real-world audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crazy Ideas College co-founder Kieran Murrihy said new grassroots solutions like these can increase young peoples\u2019 hopes for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to create opportunities for young people to showcase their brilliance and lead the conversation about how we make sure more people get to live healthy, connected and fulfilling lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLockdowns and disruptions have shown just how incredibly resilient and adaptable our kids are. Now is the time to hear from them about what they want their worlds to look like.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Grammar year nine students have developed their own socially innovative product and service ideas, with an aim to address issues impacting teenagers. Last week, small groups pitched their concepts, including mental health support and fitness apps, a substance abuse help site, and an anti-stress fidget pack to a panel of community members. The panel, […]<\/p>\n